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The Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage will take place in Hayneville, Lowndes County, Alabama on Saturday, August 11, 2018, organized by the Diocese of Alabama and the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast. Over its 22 years, the pilgrimage has grown into one of the most recognized pilgrimages of our Church, bringing people from many dioceses and seminaries across the country to the spot where Daniels, an Episcopal seminarian from Keene, New Hampshire, was shot to death in August 1965 trying to protect an African-American teenage girl. The event is held annually on the second Saturday of August.
The Pilgrimage begins at 11:00 a.m. in front of the courthouse in Hayneville, the place where an all-white jury in a sham trial lasting less than an hour found Jonathan’s murderer, Tom Coleman, not guilty. Pilgrims march to the jail where Daniels and his companions were held, and from there to the place where he was killed at a small country store that has since been razed, then back to the courthouse. In a moving Eucharist, the judge’s bench of that 1965 trial becomes the altar on which the sacrament is consecrated. Fourteen other martyrs of the Alabama civil rights movement are recognized and honored in this service as well as Daniels.
The keynote speaker this year is the Rev. Ed Bacon, retired priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles and former rector of All Saints, Pasadena for 20 years, now living in Birmingham. He was the Dean of the Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi, before going to California. He is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He was ordained in 1983. His widely read book, 8 Habits of Love, has captured large numbers of spiritual seekers following the Thomas Merton/Franciscan tradition. A progressive spokesman on issues of faith and justice, he has been a regular guest host on Oprah Winfrey's Soul Series and has been named "Soul Teacher" on her list of 100 awakened leaders who are using their voice to elevate humanity. He has won numerous awards, including honors from the NAACP, the ACLU, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and the Islamic Center of Southern California. He holds an honorary doctorate from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.
Pre-Register for a Special Forum Following the Pilgrimage
Following the Pilgrimage and lunch, attendees are invited to a special forum on the issues related to immigration: “Coming to America: Who Should We Welcome, What Should We Do?” Participants will share their personal experiences relating to immigrants and deliberate on the issues related to immigration using a non-partisan guide published by the National Issues Forum Institute. The Commission on Race Relations in the Church strongly encourages you to plan to stay for this two-hour forum and to express your views, listen, and learn from your fellow pilgrims. There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Everyone is encouraged to register online at https://goo.gl/SDYiBs.
Stay tuned for further information about bus, carpools, and/or church vans for transportation. St. Thomas in Greenville will provide a respite stop for those traveling south back home after the pilgrimage. Additional Information will follow. For questions, please contact either Gary Moore at psalm82.3and4@gmail.com or Joe McDaniel at Mcdanieljoe43@yahoo.com.